Anyone else feel like these posts are sometime just an excuse to showcase the MOST expensive stuff AT could possibly find, and then the second most expensive stuff they could find? That second rug is still almost 14 hundred frickin' dollars.

I love these features! It shows you don't have to spend a lot to get the same look. Yes, the second rug is expensive, but it's less than half the price of the first. And it's just for inspiration--you could probably find an even cheaper version or get crafty and dye one yourself.

Exactly @eeblsme! The lantern is over half of the cost of the first bedroom! Just ridiculous.

I also wouldn't spend more than $20 on a pillow but I realize I may be in the minority on that one.

I agree with eeblsme and Miller8786! I love these features but would love to see the cheaper done in a realistic budget. I'm definitely not paying more than $20 on a pillow or more than a couple hundred for rug (depending on the size).

@EeblsMe My thoughts exactly. And parts of the second "inexpensive" room is way over-budget for the average Jane.

Miller8786, absolutely! I can't even bring myself to spend $20 for two pieces of fabric usually < 25" (larger for euro sham). It helps that I'm of the generation that had to take sewing in Home Ec, though I really wanted to take wood shop (big fat no on that from school admin, despite support from my parents). Even if you don't sew, iron-on tapes and envelope-style closures mean that anyone can make a stylish pillow from fabric remnants, old T-shirts and skirts, or button-front shirts, using the buttons for the closure. Creative re-use, right? And no one else will have your pillows. Cheap, easy, and fast and requiring no skills other than the ability to measure, cut, fold, and iron.

Wow, you are hard group to please. I don't think the budget in the second one is that crazy.

Hmoog fabric is beautiful and hand made: My piece may have cost $10 but I had to travel to SE Asia to get it. Compared to the cost of air ticket, $45 is not that much. The work and texture is beautiful: I don't care how clever you are, you can't make a Hmong pillow out of old T-shirts.

And sometimes, like the rug, it's a good idea to get the good stuff.

I understand that people want low cost options but not everything (especially hand made) can be had at Target prices.

Neither or these looks are the most expensive of anything one could find. I promise.

The point is to be inspired by what you see. IF you can't afford these specific items take that a cue to print out the photos and spend some time doing just what the article suggests...go bargain hunting for things in the same style.

The "I can't afford this/that/anything..." stuff is only a problem if you make it one.

Be inspired!

...come on guys, while the rug is $1400, the table is only $15.

Its like buy one get one free

What makes that first lattern so expensive?? I am just very very curious.

I stopped to look because I love overdyed rugs, I tend to like the satuaration of color especially when everything else is very simple.. I was coveting one from ABC but out of my price range and bought this one, its very nice quality and love the color- fraction of the price.
http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-overdyed-grove/violet/200DIRE1F-508.html

Love that pillow!

The second one is just as cute, and the price difference! It's another reminder to me that you can decorate on a budget if you're patient and keep your eyes peeled for deals, fixer uppers and DIY opportunities.

I have to brace myself for the comments that repeat themselves every time this feature comes out. Lighten up.... be inspired, be innovative, be resourceful- no one here can speak for the "masses" of readership of AT- there are readers across the globe, spanning age, gender, culture and financial capabilities. If it doesn't work for you...move on to the next feature- as it may work for others.

I like this game. It's fun and it didn't cost me a cent!

I hate that a pillow that destroys an antique tribal textile is being shown at all, let alone showcased. These are not huge tribes. Let these things survive for the cultural history of mankind.

I have a number of these in my collection

I love this concept. It's all about weighing time versus money.
While we're on this theme of money and eastern decor, does anyone know where I could score a more budget-friendly version of the filigree lamps from Terrain?

http://www.shopterrain.com/lighting/

Whatever The48 said! Good stuff.

@Dabney Frake, thanks for this post ... enjoyed it & especially loved the unique pieces you chose in both price points. Keep these posts coming (despite all the potentially discouraging naysaying). Your "usual refrain" was on point. Your post & point are true, timeless & relevant to Apartment Therapy, design, style & life! The amazing instant gratification of (re)creating one's own haven/home piece-by-piece on one's own terms/style/dime is ... priceless!

@margue, my thoughts exactly!!

Totally agree with @lifeabundant and @margue, as well. These posts are meant to be fun and inspiring! They're one of my favorite recurring posts on AT!! And, if those who complained had actually read it (versus just checking out the prices), they would have known that Dabney was inviting people to SHARE less expensive alternatives and ideas for the same looks, plus tips on finding great deals on your own.

The way to have global chic is to get out and see the world and bring back a few things that are special and represent a story of your travel experience.

I love this feature! It's a great way to be inspired and shows creativity and resourcefulness. Half the fun of a bargain is in the find!

Another good spots at the moment are the auctioning houses. Yesterday an 88-inches wide modern silk-cushioned sofa sold at Christies for 63$. Such bargains aren't the rule, but there are always nice things for really good prices.

oh, I should proof-read my posts. Sorry for the grammatical errors!

+1

I'm with the thumbs up crowd. I look forward to these posts and wish there were more!

I love these posts! Keep 'em coming. I second that RugsUSA.com is an excellent source for affordable rugs, especially when they have sales!! I'm stalking a few on that site that are so much more affordable than any I've seen elsewhere.

I also love these type of posts! The budget for the second room doesn't seem out of line to me, and if I wanted that look but couldn't afford it all at once then at least I could prioritize my purchases to what I had the money (and willingness to spend it) for.

AT please do more of these! And include new traditional rooms, romantic rooms, feminine rooms please!!!

I love these high/low type things too. But I call bull on the first one because of the lamp, which is 150x the cost of the rest of the ENTIRE ROOM. You could get everything else in the "high" room for about 4800$ -- much less of a huge difference from the "low" room.

I love these high/low type things too. But I call bull on the first one because of the lamp, which is 150x the cost of the rest of the ENTIRE ROOM. You could get everything else in the "high" room for about 4800$ -- much less of a huge difference from the "low" room.

This is one of my favorite features. When we next move, I'm likely steal from one of these posts, lock stock and barrel!

This is one of my favorite features. When we next move, I'm likely steal from one of these posts, lock stock and barrel!

I like these features, too. I don't understand how anyone can think that inspiration can't be found in a vast price range. If anything, when I see an item I love in a price range outside my comfort zone, I make it a challenge to find a substitute for that item. Sometimes it will take years, but victory is sweet!

I also think people need to realize that an awful lot of people DO spend more than $20 on a pillow and that doesn't mean they're endlessly wealthy.

The high room cost does look inflated by an expensive light, since the rest of the high priced options are more mid range in comparison. The low room would actually be a great example if the rug were a lower priced option from a vendor like Rugs USA or Overstock, both of which carry similar styles for a third of that "low" price (I love HD Buttercup but they aren't exactly known for their bargains). The rest of the furnishings in the low end room are in a decent price range and very closely resemble their more expensive counterparts. Overall this is a really successful high/low!

The light is too much in the first room. The way I save money on pillows is usually by buying them at Ebay or Etsy handmade. They look good & more expensive than what I pay for them.

exactly what I was thinking!

exactly what I was thinking!

For those of you living on a budget, try the rooms at subleasehub.com. They are situated in trendy Los Angeles neighborhoods with hip, young tenants. The decor is lovely and hits all the right points!

For those who might categorically refuse to pay more than $20 for a pillow, I hope you're factoring in labor practices, whether that's your own time (which is worth more than $20 for making a pillow!) or the industrial practice of sending manufacturing jobs overseas to low-paid workers, which is what gives you a $20 pillow. The handmade pillow in the budget option was made using handmade cloth by an indigenous group.

Overdyed rug DIY: 1) make loom to size 2) get wool or silk 3) tie hundreds of thousands of knots OR 1) get rug backing 2) get wool 3) speed tuft thousands of tufts 3) dye with acid dyes outdoors because that's going to be really messy
OR 1) buy wool or silk rug 2) dye messily